CATS Film Adaptation Thread — Page 35

Robbie Fairchild is toreadorable in that photo. Thank you, BrodyFosse123.

Updated On: 1/6/20 at 09:13 AM

It's not a good film by any measure. That doesn't mean it can't be liked or enjoyed, but no one with any sense (or an IQ above 50) can say it was a good movie.

In order to preserve the dance nature of the stage production, they had no choice but to make a live action film. Animated cats simply wouldn't work in that context. However, unlike something like West Side Story, it is almost impossible to create any type of realistic-looking anthropomorphic animals without them looking ridiculous, even doing Andy Blankenbuehler's wretched choreography. The wildly out of scale "cats" and even the cinematography also don't do the film any favors.

Cats would have only have worked as an animated feature, but it would have lost much of if its choreographic nature. They should have done that, and then re-released an unedited cut of the 1998 video (though we still wouldn't have "Growltiger's Last Stand".

Narratively, there were too many issues with the film. I always had the impression that many of the songs in Cats were simply the cats identifying who they thought were likely to be chosen. Only Jennyanydots, Bustopher Jones, and Gus seem to be the candidates in the context of the staging (Skimbelshanks seems to be there randomly, so maybe he counts as the fourth, but maybe not). And if Gus is too sympathetic (Sir John Mills from the 1998 video release, and to a lesser degree Ian McKellan), Grizabella seems to be an odd choice. Turning it into an audition I thought was a weak choice, especially since it's not consistent. I think choosing the original version of Mungojerry and Rumpelteaser was a mistake. It's too slow and lacks any true melody. And while I like the idea of a confidence-lacking Mr. Mistoffelees, it essentially neutered his song, which was one of the show's highlights.

Fosse76 said: "It's not a good film by any measure. That doesn't mean it can't be liked or enjoyed, but no one with any sense(or an IQ above 50) can say it was a good movie."

Really? It is a good film by my measure and by the measure of my friends who have seen it. We believe that we have very good sense, our IQ levels are well above 50, and we say it was a good movie. Please do not make insulting, unsubstantiated statements.

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Updated On: 1/6/20 at 03:48 PM

joevitus said: "I mean, it's universally received as awful. I get that two or three people here have a different experience, but it's a bit like trying to argue that Gigli really is a comedy classic or Plan 9 From Outer Space is underrated as a horror film. If you're going to say you like this movie, you're going to have to own you're having an extremely outlier experience and not be so defensive (and lash out with insulting and ageist comments until someone who's also older turns out to like it too, and then you try to walk that second part back). It's like saying you think the 1982 movie version of Annie was better than the Broadway production: you may think that. Be prepared for many people to find that judgement suspect."

The moderator may have deleted much of your comments on this thread, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been magically forgotten. How you honestly believe your behavior has been reasonable or appropriate strongly suggests you need a reality check from a very good therapist. Almost immediately, your responses to me were attacks, accelerating eventually to what can only be described as a relentless spewing of venom. One of your first reactions to me was to call me 12 years old. When I turned the tables on you and called you OLD, suddenly I was being accused of being ageist. Now, my calling you old was a test to see if you would do that exact thing. Predictably, you did, and your responses to me henceforth have been nothing short of tedious, very few of them addressing the film this thread is about. I urge you to gather what self-respect you have in tact and DROP IT. You’re making yourself look terrible over and over again, don’t you realize that? Take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and go do something else. More importantly, stop harassing me. This is harassment, joevitus. Take a step back and take a good long look. And stop.

joevitus said: "clever2 said: "joevitus said: "clever2 said: "joevitus said: "LOL, nothing I wrote has been deleted, but nice try."

Get some help joe"

Yet again, vitriol. Tell me what's been deleted. I'll wait."

I’m an advocate for mental illness awareness, and you are genuinely starting to make me sad for you. You’re deflecting something so monstrous onto me that has nothing to do with me, which is why I haven’t taken anything you’ve said personally. I’ve been very patient with you, sir. But you need help. Please leave me alone and go find some."

Still vitriol. Suspiciously, you haveno examples of what I supposedly said that was deleted, but you had time to type that.

Sure you're an advocate, honey. It's such a vague term, it could mean anything. But as you've chosen Cat: the Movie as your Iwo Jima, I think you should worry about your own mental health before mine."

These guys are very helpful. They give free council and will assist you in finding the best resources to suit your needs. Please consider giving them a call.

https://www.mentalhealthline.org

Updated On: 1/6/20 at 09:32 PM

Highland Guy said: "clever2 said: "Robbie Fairchild is toreadorable in that photo. Thank you, BrodyFosse123."

Yes. But Sir Ian is the cat who starts me purring. Perfect casting. I don't believe anyone in 'CATS" was mis-cast. They all fit their parts well.

The Blu-ray is being pre-sold on Amazon for $23. I bought mine last week. As sad I am that it’s done so abysmally at the box office, this will mean it will be available to own sooner. Silver lining?

And Sir Ian makes me cry in this. It’s beautiful what he’s done with that number, one that has always bored me in the show. It was like hearing it for the first time.

But.....Laurie Davidson stole my heart. lol

Updated On: 1/6/20 at 11:40 PM

ArtMan said: "Since the movie's opening, I made plans to see it 3 times. Each time I talked myself out of it. Not because of the reviews, etc, but more with my current overall attitude of seeing a movie in a theater and putting up with the crap that goes along with it with audience members. I am hoping this Saturday will have some flexible show times and just maybe I will actually get to the theater. It doesn't matter to me that many have said the movie is terrible and etc. When I do eventually watch it, if I was entertained and enjoyed myself, those are really the only two qualities in a movie that matter If I was, then it wouldn't be hard for me to say...that was really good and I liked it."

Everyone I know who has seen the film, myself included, has been the only audience member in the theatre watching the movie at the time of seeing it. No one is seeing this movie haha. If you’re worried about other audience members, maybe just go to a late evening showing.

Whether you loved it or loathed it, google -- Washington Post "People are seeing ‘Cats’ while high out of their minds." -- I think you'll find it hilarious. Had me crying over breakfast.

And I truly hope this becomes a midnight classic.

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This Buzzfeed collection of tweets from Cats viewers was also hilarious.

'Memory' on the soundtrack is DEFINITELY NOT the one they used in the actual movie! And I ask, because I dare: why is a movie's soundtrack not actually the movie's soundtrack?

(Side note: loved it, saw it 4 times in the course of 4 days. Loved how full of detail, color and action it was. Not to mention the performances, orchestrations etc. There's so much to enjoy about it. Can't wait to see it again on digital.

P.S.No, I don't work for the studio. But I'm fond of nearly everything ALW does as well as Hooper's Les Mis, this much I'll confess.)

A friend/coworker of mine finally saw it last night (with zero context of the actually stage musical) and on their InstaStory, it seems like the show is already becoming a midnight cult hit a la Rocky Horror. Granted, the screening was in NY, but people were openly laughing and such, as well as cheering after Memory as if they were actually seeing JHud live.

I haven’t seen it yet, but I have free Nitehawk tickets, so I need to get high out of my mind and go ASAP.

One of the hosts of a comedy podcast I listen to was talking about how their whole family went to see it in the middle of the day in LA, put on cat ears, drew on whiskers, the whole thing - only to get to the theater and the screening was sold out. Interesting.

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